Fission track data from the bathurst batholith: Evidence for rapid mid-cretaceous uplift and erosion within the eastern highlands of australia

Abstract

Apatite fission track thermochronology reveals that uplift and erosion occurred during the mid-Cretaceous within the Bathurst Batholith region of the eastern highlands, New South Wales. Apatite fission track ages from samples from the eastern flank of the highlands range between ca 73 and 139 Ma. The mean lengths of confined fission tracks for these samples are >13 p.m with standard deviations of the track length distributions between 1 and 2 p.m. These data suggest that rocks exposed along the eastern flank of the highlands were nearly reset as the result of being subjected to palaeotemperatures in the range of approximately 100-110°C, prior to being cooled relatively quickly through to tem..